Just catching up on some recent interesting eBay sales to add to the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Here’s a nice 10-inch Blue Note: Lou Donaldson, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5021. This was in VG+ condition, both the record and the cover. The price was $339. I love these old records with titles like “New Faces, New Sounds” or “Introducing.” They really put the timing of the release of the records in a nice context. This one also has a great cover.
Here’s another 10-incher from the same era with a great cover and a great title: Thelonious Monk Quintet Blows For LP, Prestige 166. This is another title that really dates itself: The concept that
the musicians were now recording for a new LP format and could stretch out, as compared to blowing for the shorter format of 78s. This was before the advent of the 12-inch LP, which didn’t come along until, what, 1954? So it’s great context for the music. This LP also features a young Sonny Rollins, who was just making his mark. The LP looked to be in VG++ condition, and the cover also looked VG++, although the seller never actually graded it. It sold for $324.99.
agree to your nostalgia about “new faces, new sounds”. They are the backbone of my Blue Note collection. Some of these 10″ albums have been integrally re-issued on 12″ (Miles, J.J., Blakey – Birdland) others though were incomplete: (Lou Donaldso and Clifford Brown) or some were simply never released on regular 12″ (Elmo Hope trio and qnt). I deliberately don’t talk about some exemplary later issues coming from Japan.